Five Questions with Dirk Nowitzki

NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Five Questions With ..." runs every Tuesday. We talk to key figures in the game and ask them questions to gain insight into their lives, careers and the latest news.

The latest edition features former NBA player Dirk Nowitzki, who grew up watching hockey in Germany and attended numerous NHL games during his time with the Dallas Mavericks.

Dirk Nowitzki may have grown up in a country where soccer and basketball were more popular, but the former NBA star has always loved hockey.

"I've followed ice hockey since I was little," Nowitzki told NHL.com/de last week in an exclusive interview. "I remember watching Dusseldorf play Cologne (in the German Ice Hockey League). Those were always great games. All these German ice hockey legends that I remember."

Nowitzki, who is the sixth-leading scorer in NBA history (31,560 points), won an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. The 2006-07 NBA MVP spent 21 seasons with them before retiring after the 2018-19 season. Playing in Dallas, he attended his share of Dallas Stars games, which included dropping the puck and reading the lineup before a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 2, 2019.

"The speed of the game, the physical nature, the skill level on the puck … it's exciting, the competitiveness, the ruggedness," he said. "It's just a fun sport and it's fun to go to games and see the intensity live."

Nowitzki became the fourth Germany-born player in NBA history when he entered the league in 1998 and is glad to see several of his countrymen playing in the NHL. This season, Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl was the first Germany-born player to lead the League in scoring (110 points; 43 goals, 67 assists).

"I met him at my soccer charity game and he's just super down to earth, super cool and wants to work, and that's fun to see," Nowitzki said of Draisaitl.

Nowitzki, who lives in Dallas, spoke about Draisaitl's chances for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL MVP, and how the game has expanded globally.

Here are Five Questions with … Dirk Nowitzki:

Growing up in Germany, when did you become interested in hockey?

"I had been following the game, watching the national team there and then started following the NHL more when I got [to Dallas in 1998]. Always knew of course about Wayne Gretzky, but it was kind of hard from Germany to really follow the NHL, so I followed more when I got here. The season that I came (1998-99), the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup with Mike Modano and Brett Hull and all those guys, so of course I became a fan of the game. I do go to games when I do have some time and just enjoy the game."

Leon Draisaitl once said that he wants to be the Dirk Nowitzki of German hockey. What do you think of that?

"Well, it's of course a huge honor for me that he would think that [I am] an inspiration of his to be like me in a foreign country and make it in a league, and that's of course super humbling for me. That is awesome. I'm happy for him, I'm thrilled for him. I think of course there's so many great players and athletes in that League and for him to score the most points in the regular season is an amazing accomplishment. The sky's the limit, he's only 24 years old and he's going to keep working."

You won the NBA MVP award in 2007. Draisaitl has a good chance at winning the Hart Trophy this season. What would it mean to have another German player named MVP of his league?

"It's hard to win MVP in any league. There's great players in any sport, so that would be a huge thing for him as a German, that would be an amazing, amazing accomplishment, so hopefully that will happen. We'll keep our fingers crossed. He's so young, he's had an amazing season. He'll have lots and lots more chances of course in the future to get an MVP if it doesn't happen this year."

Forward prospects Dominik Bokk (Carolina Hurricanes) and Lukas Reichel (2020 NHL Draft eligible), are from Germany. Have you heard of them and if so, what are your thoughts on them?

"I think that's absolutely amazing. That shows that the sport is doing really well in Germany, that young players are coming up and are thriving and scouts have seen them play. It speaks for the farm system there in Germany; it speaks for the [German] league that they are doing good work and have good coaching and good players. I think that's awesome that there's two young prospects growing up where I'm from, and of course wish them nothing but luck. Hopefully their dream works out one day and we'll see them in the NHL soon."

With one NHL regular-season game and six preseason games having been played in Germany since 2008, what are your thoughts on how the sport has expanded globally?

"They have players from all over the world in the League but they can still grow the game across the globe. It's such a fun, energetic game to watch and it's physical and it's skilled, so I like it a lot. Hopefully it can get more traction in Germany."